Well, there are a lot of variables.................

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Posted by Fred Albury on March 15, 2003 at 11:33:17:

In Reply to: Follow up on laying female eastern indigo... posted by Rob Carmichael on March 14, 2003 at 07:09:53:

:So far, looks like nine good eggs but I celebrated too early as my prized female became egg bound. I was concerned in that there was one egg that was still well anterior of the cloaca (nearly 8 inches). I thought for sure she was going in for surgery but last night, I soaked her in tepid/lukewarm water for 45 minutes to see if I could relax her a bit. I then just started to gently massage her putting VERY gentle but constant pressure on the anterior side of where the egg was to see if I could push the egg towards the cloaca and using gravity to my advantage. After two hours (which seemed like days....my wife was very jealous for all of the attention that this other "girl" was getting), I was able to move the egg very near the cloaca. The entire two hours, the female just laid motionless (what a great patient!) and was even trying to contract her muscles to help out (but she was dead tired and didn't have much left in her). I put her back in a high humid, slightly damp nest box overnight, and this morning....SUCCESS. She was able to get that last egg out. She is now resting comfortably and I hope to have a complete recovery. This female may be going into retirement as this is her second clutch (out of three) that she has produced in which she has become egg bound. Any thoughts out there?...haven't had this problem with my other females. I'd hate to see this happen again to her. She will get at least a couple of seasons off before I breed her again (if I go this route).

Rob,

I had a female get egg bound about two years ago. I finally got her to pass the eggs with the help of of a good friend who helped me aspirate the eggs through and reduce their size down to make them more passable. After a year off, she has ben bred again this year. If she gets eggbound again, she will be sold as a pet to someone that has NO INTEREST in ever breding her. My vet(Dr.Boyer) also informed me that once this occurs the snake operates with only one oviduct and the likelyhood of it happening again is great. Cross your fingers for me. I hope it doesnt. All part of the exciting and never ending drama of TRYING to produce eastern indigos. lol Take care and congrats! on the eggs that you have gotten.

Sincerely,

Fred Albury
AZTEC REPTILES

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Re: Well, there are a lot of variables................. stain 03/16/03 (0)